Marine anchorage means



NOV. 7, 1950 C, P, WINTER 2,529,271

MARINE ANCHORAGE MEANS Filed Nov. 16, 41931 W yowfgNl/ENTOR.

EWM

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 7, 1950 MARINE ANCHORAGE' MEANS Courtney P. W'mter, Chambersburg, Pa., assigner to the United States of Americal as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Application November 16, 1931, Serial No. 575,443

10 Claims.V Y (Cl. 1052-15) My invention relatesv to a device which will automatically place itself in an operative position with respectv tothe mine sweep which is being maneuvered for theY purpose of. removing the mine, and of permitting this sweep to pass under and through the device, free of the mine moorings.

. My invention isan improvement upon the cle-- vices of this class in the prior art exemplied by Patents 1,564-,26'0fand 566,834, andits object is to simplify such apparatus, provide.V for the' certainty offpassage of the mine sweepfcablethrough the minegata.. and prevent the7 device, from. becoming l inoperativethrough lthe corrosive action of; salt and. otherv waters or throughv sediment.,

To accomplish these and other objects I have devised the.. apparatus. herein disclosed.

.I do not desire to limit. myself solely to the form shown in the accompanying. drawing, which illustrates effective means whereby my invention may be put into advantageous use.

VIn the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 illustrates. a side elevation'view of an apparatus ein-l bodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional Viewv on line X-X of Figure 1;, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective of the shoe: connection portion thereof; and

Figure 4 is a sectional detail of a modification.

Referring to Figure 1*, I represents a buoyant mine' and 2 a rigid strap whichcontains` the bearing fcrthe notched wheelv 3;. This strap is pref"- erably connected close to the mine l' in such a man-ner as to permit a considerable movement in azimuth or pivotally with respect to the vertical line 'of' action between the'buoyant mine andits anchor 8?.

AThi'sffreedom of' movement may be made possible either by two or more loose fitting eyes, as shown inthe drawing; several links of chain` and cable; or by a swivel IIE' asrrepresented in dotted lines in Figure 2.

Thewheel 3 is` provided with a machined or smooth enlargedor 'lf-shaped rim 5', having a plurality'of notchesfthereinz extending into the web of' wheel 3f.

A shoe, represented by 4', 'shown in detail in Figure 3', in sectionlin Figure 2 and in position with respect to: the remainderl of the apparatus in Figure 12, is made fast to the anchor end of the mine mooring cable Tand' contains an arcuate groove 5w which loosely andi siidably eng-ages the interrupted-wim 5 ofthe notched wheel 3T. The groove 5w is greater in length: than' the width of any notch` IIB-inlwheel 3,lsothat wheel rim 5 may be retained rotatably in said groove 5a. For convenience in assembly the shoe l is formed in two parts joined together by screws lia, with portions of groove 5a in each of the juxtaposed surfaces when groove 5a extends from both surfaces of the rim of wheel 3, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Preferably the length of groove 5a is substantially equal to the space or rim 5 between notches l0; Ihe anchor-cable is secured at its upper end to shoe 4, preferably by being clamped in a groove 5B formed in opposite sides of the joint between the portions of shoe 4, preferably with said groove 5b in substantially the segment of a circle with one of its termini adapted to be in vertical alignment with the center of wheel 3 and of the connection between mine I and strap 2.

Adjacent eachnotch I0 in wheel 3 is pivotally mounted t'o wheel 3 by pin 6d a latch S having a curved' :portion 6u;y normally extending across and substantially closing its respective notch I0. Each latch 6- is provided with a blunt terminal portion 6b adapted to contact with the shoulder 4b formed on the end of shoe 4 from which anchorV rope 1 depends. Each latch 6 is also providedv intermediate its ends with a hook 6c adapted to be hooked over the shoulder 4c on the end of shoe 4 remote from said shoulder 4b. The

curved portion 6a of each latch 6 extends between and connects portion 6b and hook 6c. Latches 6 are mounted preferably on opposite surfaces of wheel 3 with pin 6d extending through the web of wheel 3 and loosely through each latch, with a head on one end of each pin and a Cotter-pin through its opposite end to confine said latches and the web of wheel 3 between said head and pin, as shown in Figure 2.

The shoe `4 slidesr about the periphery of wheel. 3v with its flanged rim 5 loosely fitting in slot 5a inA shoe. 4. Thel length of shoe s is substantially uniform with the distance between its opposite terminal portions 4b, fic, being substantially thatI of the rim 5 between notches Ill. The portions 6b, 6c of each latch, and their respective cooperating shoulders 4b, 4c are preferably so proportioned as to lock ,shoe 4 to wheel 3 at any point intermediate, but free from obstructing, adjacent notches I0 in wheel 3, with the anchor rope 'i normally extending toward the center oiY a notch lil-in wheel 3, as well as the center of wheel 3 and the point of connection between mine l. and strap 2. Normally, the position of shoe li is controlled by the spring actuated latches 5 mounted on one or both faces of the wheel 3.

Y It 'will' be noted that the point of Contact of the shoe 4 and rim 5 of wheel 3 is out of the line of pull running between the centers of the mine I, wheel 3 and anchor 8, and hence the shoe 4 is mounted eccentrically with respect to said line of draft. This eccentric mounting is important, inasmuch as it results in the mine sweep gate swinging into an operative position when influenced by the horizontal component of the pressure exerted by a mine sweep cable 9 along the mine mooring cable l, as hereinafter explained.

For the more advantageous use of my device, particularly in waters where no strong Current obtains, I prefer to mount a rudder I2 on the strap 2 removably by screws I2a substantially as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1, and full lines in Figure 2, for the purpose of assisting the aforesaid eccentricity of the device to rapidly orientate itself in an operative positionas the mine sweep cable 9 begins to move the mine I substantially horizontally through the water.

It will be noted that the notches I9, in the wheel S are of ample size to receive, without jamming, a mine sweep cable 9 of the diameterv usually used in operations against submarine mines.

The operation of this device is as follows:

The mine sweep cable 9, dragging along or near the bottom of the harbor or channel, comes in contact with the lower part of the mine mooring cable l, moves the mine correspondingly, and then begins to travel in an upward and horizontal direction along the cable 'I'.

If sweep cable 9 meets anchor rope 'I in the` l relation indicated in Figure 1, the stress on cable 9 will move mine I toward the right and correspondingly incline rope 1. In this relation said movement and inclination will continue with the result that cable 9 will bem'oved along .anchor rope 'I toward wheel 3 until it reaches the crotch between the adjacent end of shoe 4 and portion 6a of the adjacent latch 6, whereupon such latch 6 will be moved toward the center of wheel 3 to permit cable 9 to occupy the notch IU in wheel 3. This movement of said latch 6 unlocks wheel 3 from shoe 4 and permits the pressure of cable 9 in notch I0 to move wheel 3, with cable' 9 inclosed in notch I D by shoe 4, until the cable reaches the opposite end of shoe 4, whereupon it is free to be removed from notch Ill. Dotted lines 9a in Figure 1 illustrate the pathof movement of the center line of cable 9 through the thus described gateway provided by my invention to frustrate unauthorized attempts to sweep up the mines anchored pursuant to my invention. v

Should cable 9 approach anchor rope from any other direction than that indicated in Figure 1, the same movement of mine I and corresponding inclination of rope 'I will result. However, when cable 9 comes in contact with the eccentrically disposed shoe 4 locked in said position by the latches 9, the stress of cable 9 upon shoe 4 will Yresult in the turning about a vertical axis of wheel 3 and shoe 4 with their attached parts substantially to the position shown in Figure 1.

Where mines are anchored in water having no strong irregular currents I prefer for best'results to attach to such mines the rudder I2 by screws I2@ threaded into one of the straps 2. This rudder I2 being mounted or extending to one side of the line of draft and extending in the direction indicated in Figure 1, when cable 9 for instance, approaches anchor rope I from any direction other than that indicated in Figure 1, the resulting movement of mine I will cause Wheel 3 and its attached parts to be slowly turned 4 to the position indicated in Figure 1 relative to cable 9. This will insure the cable 9 readily going through the gate in the path indicated by dotted lines 9a in Figure l.

The power with which the mine sweep cable 9 is being forced through the war against the anchor 8 presses the latch 6 inwardly toward the center of the wheel 3 and permits the sweep 9 to engage thenotch I9. The action of forcing the latch 6 inwardly releases the catch which previously had prevented the wheel 3 from turning, in this case in an anti-clockwise direction. Consequently the wheel 3 actuated by the mine sweep cable 9 now turns in an anti-clockwise direction passing sweep cable 9 through the device. This motion of the wheel engages in the shoe 4 the next succeeding portion of rim `5 of the wheel 3 and, when properly positioned, the

`following latch 6 prevents further movement of the wheel 3 in this direction, while the latch hooked over the other end 4b of shoe 4 prevents movement of wheel 3 in an opposite direction. The mine sweep cable 9 having passed through the device, the first latch now snaps back into place thus preventing a clockwise turn of the wheel 3 and securely xes the position of the shoe 4 as it was before the passage of the sweep? cable 9 and sets the device in yan operative position for a succeeding sweep.

The importance of shoe 4 with its slot 5a oc#4 cupying no morey than the rim portion 5 of wheel 3 between adjacent notches IIl is to avoid theI obstructionof the notches I0 at opposite ends of shoe 4 which form the gateway through whichA while the weights, if latches e in their posi-v tions at opposite ends of shoe 4 will tend to bringl latchesl 6 into lockingengagement with the oppo` site ends of shoe 4, the position of the other latches 6 about wheel 3 is inconsequential since' there is no shoe for them to lock. However, in order to assist the action of gravity, I provide for each latch 6 a spring 6e having coil 6J' intermediate its ends, with one end of spring 6e being secured to latch 6, in'the instance shown, by its being driven into a hole formed in said latch, while the opposite endof spring 6e bears against thehub of wheel 3.

The device beingadapted to be anchored in water which may be either fresh or salt and which may contain sediment and other harmful constituents, it is apparent that in the form of the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawe ings unusual simplicity, certainty of proper action and durability are economically attained.

It will be further noted that cable 9 is usually of substantial size and length, extending between mine sweeping vessels and that normally, as well as under its mine sweeping stress, cable 9 is not readily iiexedy nor movedfrom its position, and

one of the substantial problems solved by my in-v vention is to get cable 9 through the gateway indicated by dotted lines 9a with as little relative movement of cable 9 and the mine anchor parts as possible, and in practice the position of cable 9 is unaltered by its encounter with an anchored mine of my construction, mine I varying rela-U tively little in itsangularposition relative t0.;

anchor 8 'while cableeisp'assing through gateway-SailinFigure 1. V While it is designed in theattainment of the most satisfactory results tol employ the various features and elements of. the apparatus in the combination and relations described and shown, some may be separately used, altered or omitted without interfering withtheobtainment of the general result, and'my invention contemplates and extends thereto.

In Eig-1 the wheel 3'is providedwith alno-tched periphery substantially similar to wheel 3 but having a central arcuate slot` 20 therein adapted to Ice-slidably occupied by central shoe portions 2l: Guter portions 22y are provided on their inner surfaces -with arcuate slots'slid'ably engaging the shouldered outer surfaces ofthefrim 5 outside oir'slot 2li.v Shoe portionsZJL-ZZ- may conform to the exterior shape of shoe 4 and are secured together by screws 23.

The end of cable 1 is provided with recesses A between the shoe portions 2i which grip such cable on the tightening of screws 23 which does not interfere with the free sliding of shoe portions 2 l, 22 over the surfaces -of the rim of wheel 3. f

It is also desired that it be understood hereby that the invention herein described may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon or therefor; and that said invention forms the subject matter of the assignment in writing of the whole right, title and interest therein, duly executed by me to the Government of the United States of America concurrently with the execution of this application.

Having now so fully described my invention that others skilled in the art may therefrom make and use the same, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an anti-sweeping device forrsubmarine mines the combination of a wheel having a plurality of notches therein, a ledge on the periphery of said wheel and extending between the notches therein, a shoe provided with an arcuate groove adapted to slidably engage said notched portion of said wheel, means whereby a mine and an anchor may be attached one to said wheel and the other to said shoe, and means for releasably locking said wheel and shoe together in definite relation.

2. In an anti-sweeping device for submarine mines the combination of a wheel having a plurality of notches therein, a ledge on the periphery of said wheel and extending between the notches therein, a shoe provided with an arcuate groove slidably engaging said ledged and notched portion of said wheel, means whereby a mine and an anchor maybe attached one to said wheel and the other to said shoe, and means extending across a notch in said wheel for releasably locking said wheel and shoe in definite relation.

3. In an anti-sweeping device for submarine mines the combination of a wheel having a plurality of notches therein, a ledge on the periphery of said wheel and extending between the notches therein, a shoe provided with an arcuate groove adapted to slidably engage said notched portion of said wheel, and latch means normally closing said notches and adapted to lock said wheel and shoe in definite relation.

4. In an anti-sweeping device for submarine mines the combination of a wheel having a plurality of notches extending from its periphery toward the center,Vv thereof and having :a ledge extendingI between saidinotches, ashoe having an arcuate slot'tofreceve theV periphery of said wheel and embracing said ledge, a latch pivo-tally mounted adjacent to and extending across each of said notches in said wheel, said latches and shoe being provided with cooperating means for locking said shoe between said notches, and means whereby a mine and an anchor may be attached one to said wheel and the other to said shoe...

5l In an anti-sweeping device for submarine mines, a turnable member having contiguous perimetric notches, a shoe slidably engaged with the'perimeter of said `member and being approximately as long as the perimetric distance between notches, and Vlatch means guarding each of the notches, normally closing the notches and locking the shoe.

t 6. As an article of manufacture, a Wheel having perimetric cut-out portions, and closures turnably mounted on the wheel adjacent to the notches, bridging the notches and maintaining the substantially circular contour of the wheel.

7. In an anti-sweeping device for use with the anchorage device of a submarine mine, the combination of a wheel having a plurality of equally spaced notches in the periphery thereof, a shoe having an arcuate face curved to fit the periphery of said Wheel, said face being substantially the length of the peripheral space between adjacent notches in said wheel, coacting means on said shoe and said wheel to aord an interlocking connection therebetween but allow free rotationY of said wheel with respect to said shoe, displaceable locking means normally closing the entrance to each of said notches, said locking means normally locking said shoe in place on the periphery of Said wheel so that it lies between two adjacent notches and accurately presents one of said notches for entry by a sweeping cable contacting the anchorage device, whereby a sweeping cable making such contact will be guided into said notch, displace said locking means normally closing said notch, rotate said wheel through one of said spaces, and be released without disturbing the anchorage of the mine, leaving said shoe locked to said wheel in a position to accurately present one of said notches for subsequent entry of a sweeping cable.

8. In an anti-sweeping device forming a part of the anchoring means of a submarine line and comprising a wheel having cable receiving notches equally spaced about its periphery and a shoe having an arcuate face of substantially the peripheral length of one of the spaces, the shoe being interlocked with the wheel in a manner to allow rotation of the wheel with respect to the shoe while maintaining a rm connection therewith; self-acting locking means normally locking the wheel immovably with respect to the shoe in such a position as to accurately present one of the notches for entry of a sweeping cable contacting the anchoring means, said locking means being displaceable by the action of a sweeping cable, whereby upon such contact being made the sweeping cable will be passed through the anchoring means without disturbing the anchorage of the mine and will leave the wheel and shoe locked together in such a position as to accurately present one of the notches for subsequent entry of a sweeping cable.

9. In an anti-sweeping device for submarine mines comprising means for passing a sweeping cable through a mine anchorage device; self- REFERENCES CITED 'The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

xuNrrED,` STATES PATENTS Number Re. 13,028 493,551 5 1,122,024

Number l5 4,015 129,325

v Name Date Klingler Oct. 26, 1909 y Kneedler Mar. 14, 1893 OConnell Dec. 22, 1914 Simmons Deo. 5, 1916 McGinn Dec. 8, 1925 Tschappat Jan. 4, 1927 Hoxie Aug. 5, 1930 Peschl Nov. 21, 1933 Huguenin Mar. 24, 1936 FOREIGN Y PATENTS Country Date Great Britain of 1914 Great Britain July 17, 1919 France Mar. 26, 1920 Germany Jan. 12, 1922 

